Israel to pull out from Philadelphi route by the end of 2005

The ministerial security council of the Israeli cabinet on Monday  approved the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Philadelphi Route, which runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, by the end of the year.

Israeli Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz said during the council meeting that Israel will withdraw from the route by the end of the year, Israeli radio reported.

The council also decided that the head of the Operations Department at the Israel Army, Yirsael Zef, should finalize by the end of the week the details of the proposed Israeli-Egyptian agreement to deploy 750 Egyptian border guards on the Egyptian side of the Philadelphi Route. 

“We want to guarantee that the Palestinians not smuggle arms,” Mofaz said. “Israel should maintain control over the sea.”